Animal with Double Cosmetic Tube

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The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT) (r) is a structured vocabulary for generic concepts related to art and architecture. It was developed by The Getty Research Institute to help research institutions become consistent in the terminology they use.Learn More

Glassmaking was one of many crafts that flourished in the Sasanian Empire, and numerous products have come to light. Unfortunately, because our knowledge of Sasanian glass is somewhat limited, we cannot be sure whether some of these objects are Sasanian, Byzantine, or early Islamic. One example is this double cosmetic tube supported by two horses. It had both functional and decorative uses. Tubular containers for cosmetics mounted on zoomorphic figures were made in the Syrian region. The idea of supporting small containers with animal forms may have derived from the production of glass toys and figurines. More than 20 such objects are found in museums around the world. Some of the tubes are surrounded by an openwork “cage” made with trails of molten glass.

Description

Primary Description:

Animal with Double Cosmetic Tube. Almost colorless, but with greenish tinge and few purple streamers, dark bluish green glass; blown, applied. Double tube: two tubes, side by side, made from single bubble of glass by pinching sides vertically to form diaphragm. Rims (D. 1.1-1.2 cm) thickened slightly, with rounded lip; walls vertical; base embedded in body of animal. Applied decoration: single trail wrapped spirally 21 times around both tubes, from 2.9 cm to 7.5 cm below rims. Animal has two heads and two tails, but only four legs. Body and legs consist of single bit manipulated to form flat, rectangular body (L. about 4.5 cm, W. about 2.3 cm, Th. 0.7 cm) and short legs with bulbous feet; legs are straight, those at front point forward, and those at rear point back; bottom of double tube protrudes very slightly on underside of body. Heads consist of single bit manipulated to form two necks and heads, each with bulbous nose, and with green coil applied to forehead. Tails also consist of single bit, in this case manipulated to two upward projections shaped like pointed leaves.